Hood latch



'1! July 5, 19320 N. A. MEARS ET AL 5 7 HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 11. 19312 sheets-sheet 1- z 5 T 6/ A 3 e fl v aw e c m 3 M w m U a w .FuEy 5,19326 N, A, MEARS ET L HOOD LATCH Filed Sept. 11. 1931 2 Sheets-Sheet 2'M kM fltto rug 9,

Patented July 5, 1932 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE NORTON A. MEARS AN'DDIBRELL P. HYNES, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNORS TO CHI- CAGO FORGING &MANUFACTURING CO., OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OI ILLINOIS noonLATCH Application filed September 11, 1931. Serial No. 582,268.

Our invention relates to an improvement in a lock mechanism and has forone purpose the provision of improved locking means for an automobilehood closure. One purpose is the provision of an externally operatablefor such a closure which will hold a hood late in hood securing positionand which will prevent the actuation of the normal external means forunlatching the hood. Other ob- 10 jects will appear from time to time inthe course of the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated more or less diagrammatically in theaccompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure l is a side elevation of the exterior of an automobile hood;

Figure 2 is an interior elevation, on an enlar ed scale;

igure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2; Figure 4 is a sectionon the line 44 of Figure 2;

Figure 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Figure 2 Fi ure 6 is a viewsimilar to the right half of Figure 2,013 a variant form; and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 7-7 of Figure 6.

Like parts are indicated by like symbols throughout thespecification anddrawings.

Referring to the figures, A generally indicates a portion of'a frame orchassis of an automobile. A is the radiator and A a forward part of thebody. A A indicate abutments a ainst which the double hinged hoodclosure i is adapted to be drawn.

Mounted upon the inner face of said clo-' sure isa rock shaft generallyindicated as B having the terminal cranks B and the in- 49 termediateoff-set crank portion 13. The

' rock shaft B may be supported at its ends in bearing members whichinclude base plates 0 secured in any suitable manner to the inner faceof the hood and the outstanding flange C whichmay be apertured as at Cto receive the rock shaft. Preferably the stock of the flange C is upsetas at C to provide what is in effect a cylindrical bearing ofsubstantial- 1y glgeater length than the thickness of the stoc videdwith a bottom D apertured as at D Inset in the cup is a, mating cup Dwith a reduced portion D which forms a cylindrical sleeve, the apertureof which is of the same diameter as D. The two apertures thus formaxially spaced bearings which receive the handle shaft D associated withthe exterior handle D Secured to the handle shaft D is a crank E whichhas associated with its outer end the crank pin E Pivoted to the pin Eis the securing stirrup E which surrounds the off-set B of the rockshaft B. It will be understood that rotation of the handle D in eitherdirection rotates the rock shaft B. through the engagement of the pin Eor the stirrup E with the off-set B The lever E is also provided with ashorter extension E at the opposite side of the shaft D which terminatesin a toe E which closely abuts against the surface of the'base plateD.The are of rotation of the lever E is limited by the inwardly extendingoff-sets or abutments E E which are adapted to be engaged by said toe E"G G indicate locking abutments fixed upon the automobile structure. Theyinclude, for example, the base plates G and the flanges G wlth theinclined locking surfaces G8 adapted to be engaged by the cranks B ofthe rock shaft B. The locking effect may, for example, be that which ismore fully described in applicants Patent No. 1,809,720, issued on the9th day of June, 1931.

Referring to the form of Figures 1 to 3, H indicates any suitable lockhousing which may be secured to the base plate D. The details of thelock form no part of the present invention but it may be actuated fromthe exterior of the hood closure as by any suitlocking position. It isonly after the bolt H has been withdrawn that the handle D can be movedinto the dotted line position of Figure 2, thereby moving the cranks Binto the unlocking position as shown in dotted line in Figure 2. V e

Referring to-Figures 6 and 7 the lock housing H is positioned above therock shaft and .the bolt H engages the crank'E, preventing its movementfrom the locking position in which it is shown.

It will be realized that whereas we have described and shown a practicaland operative device nevertheless many changes may be made in size,shape, num r and disposition and parts without departing from the spirithood including a rock shaft rotatably mounted on the inner face of thehood, and means for rotating said rock shaft, including 'a'handleexterior to the hood, bearing means NORTON A. MEARS. DIBRELL P. HYNES.

of our invention as defined by the scope of t the claims. We, therefore,wish these drawings to be taken as in a broad sense illus trative anddiagrammatic rather than limiting us to the precise details of ourdescription and showing.

The use and operation of the invention are as follows:

We have illustrated a hood latch in general accordance with the showingof our Patent No. 1,809,720, issued the 9th day of June, 1931. It willbe understood, for example, that the flexure of the rock shaft B, whenthe parts are in locking osition, serves to hold the lever E in thelocking position with the toe E against the abutment E the position inwhich it is shown in Figures 2 and 6. It will be observed that the leverE is slightly over center and therefore the locking flexure of the rodprevents it from returning over center unless a positive twist ormovement is manually given to the handle D. In order to prevent theopening of the hood by unauthorized parties we may position the lockhousing H so that the keeper H will engage either the toe E or the crankpin E, to prevent movement of the handle D to unlocking position.

We claim:

1. In a latching device for a double hinged hood including a rock shaftrotatably mounted on the inner face of the hood, and

, means for rotating said rock shaft, including a handle exterior to thehood, bearing means for the rock shaft, including brackets secured tothe inner face of the hood closure ;and having each a flange aperturedto permit the passage of the rock shaft therethrough, said aperturehaving associated therewith a generaly cylindrical bearing memberextruded from said flange.

2. In a latching device for a double hinged

